Final Overview/Description of Packaging Product

During the construction process of the final packaging product for the Hobsons Brewery/Oldfields Orchard, I discovered that I needed to make alterations in the design, this was the result of certain impracticality's. Initially, I was going to pay for my design to get professionally constructed through the utilisation of a 3D printing company, as it would ensure that the product is as close a representation as physically possible to the original design. Furthermore, it would more accurately illustrate a similar process as to how the product would be made, if it was accepted into the brewery/orchards packaging variety then it would be built in a way where each 'Nature Cup' was already partially joined (like the yogurt pots that I mentioned earlier within my blog), whereas constructing the packaging by hand resulted in the joints being represented rather than them being physically portrayed. I discovered that there are obviously more benefits towards employing a 3D printing company to print the main product, however, it simply wasn't an option as the cost would have been around £500, a price which I could not afford. This meant that I was required to find an alternative method of constructing my final packaging product, resulting in me employing my dads engineering expertise to ensure that the products unusual design worked efficaciously.


(3D printing example) 

The following bullet points illustrates all the features (including the alterations) that compose my final packaging product...

• The 6 'Nature Cups' = I purchased these from John Lewis (their lids are meant to be the same colour, however they didn't have 6 of the same colour so I had to buy different colours) and cut holes out of the top of the lids by heating up one of my mum's circular cookie cutters, which when hot enough melted through the plastic and created a perfectly even hole large enough to hold the bottle neck in place. 
• The Carrying Straps = Originally these were going to be made from impregnated cardboard, however, I have replaced this with the fabric Hessiun (this will be impregnated like the cardboard), this is due to the fact that it withholds more positives than the cardboard. The impregnated hessiun is biodegradable, stronger thus enabling it to fully support the weight of the 6 bottles/'Nature Cups' as well as contributing a more rustic feel that is more aesthetically pleasing, These hessiun carrying straps for this prototype were taken from both purchased hessiun from HobbyCraft and from a Tesco hessiun bag for life. 
• Elements that have been included to ensure the packaging product remains in tact = I have had to include certain features within the packaging to reinforce the structure of the final prototype, an elastic band can be found underneath the hessiun strap going around the side of the 'Nature Cups', this would not be included if the product was constructed professionally, it is simply there to hold the product together. This is similar to the small section of black tape that wraps around each 'Nature Cup' joining them together, as mentioned previously, if this was constructed professionally they would be automatically joined together thus indicating that these straps wouldn't be necessary. 
• Each of the plastic cups feature the trademark bowler hat to represent the sister companies. 
• The hessiun carrying support straps feature information such as the 'Seeds of Change' website, the companies name 'The Hobsons Brewery' and 'The Oldfield's Orchard' as well as small decorative details. 
• The lids of the 'Nature Cups' can be placed upside down to form coasters. 

Images of the Final Packaging Product 

Materials Utilised within the Product

• Plastic = If the packaging was going to be properly produced then it would be made from biodegradable plastic not ordinary plastic. 
• Hessiun = This is ordinary hessiun in the prototype, if it was going to be properly produced the hessiun would have seed sewn/impregnated into it. 
• Cardboard = Small cardboard separators, to separate each 'Nature Cup'. 
• Elastic = This is simply there to hold the prototype together as the hessiun was sewn too loosely thus resulting in it requiring additional reinforcement to hold the 6 'Nature Cups' together, the elastic would NOT be there if the product was properly produced. 
• Black Tape = This is simply there to hold the 6 'Nature Cups' together, the black tape would NOT be there if the product was properly produced. 

Finished Learning Report

Green Design Learning Report

The module of Green Design introduced an entirely new concept of physical design, requiring extensive research, as well as a broad outlook and an innovative and creative ability to encapsulate a unique response to the outlined brief.

I initially underestimated the difficulty that this design project ultimately posed. The sheer amount of additional tasks required, combined with the vast amounts of necessary research on elements such as potential materials and resources, amalgamated with the issue that many of the concepts I devised were already out there.

From my initial research it became obvious that green design could be seen as both a necessary but furthermore a contentious issue. Designing ‘better’ for the future goes beyond waiting for governments and legislation, and through internet based research, the growing voices of campaigners to implement integrated changes within society, highlighted that advancing technology combined with the willingness to change habits and lifestyles means that every one of us can make a difference if so willing.

Resources such as the films ‘The Age of Stupid’ and ‘The Story of Stuff’ highlighted the fact that many parts of the world have become spoilt; consumerism is a key concept that exploits natural resources, powers economies and leads to incredible amounts of waste. My visit to ‘The Centre for Alternative Technology’ however was a firsthand experience in learning how there is an alternative, through the adaptation of lifestyle. From creative design and use of different materials the centre showcased green concepts through large-scale projects, such as Zero Carbon Britain, the straw bale theatre, and the rammed mud walls of the lecture theatre, illustrating how, with pioneering and careful design, we can make a reduction in our carbon emissions by reducing our waste.

The reduction of waste was an important concept within the brief, designing packaging that possessed the ability to effectively carry 6 bottles of cider/beer, through the utilisation of materials that were environmentally friendly and which ultimately could be adapted to contribute a secondary use. Surprisingly, research into packaging led me into the past, traditional Japanese packaging with it’s simple yet beautiful designs, are both practical and functional for the job that they are designed for. Exquisite and elegant, they battle against our consumerist manufacturing ideologies and insert us into a world that withholds more innocent and natural philosophies. Traditional Japanese Packaging utilises natural materials whilst eliminating the modernist method of mass-production, an element of life that is prominent within the majority of shops currently open for business. Western countries such as The United States and The United Kingdom possess enormous stores that are, in essence, shrines to the mass-manufacturing industry, with hundreds of the same product adorning the walls (often modelling a clever marketing scheme) they are a consumerist junkies dream.

Green design and sustainable living are casually growing in popularity, individuals are becoming more aware and a select few have already contributed to the planets healing process by making the necessary sacrifices and altering their lifestyles. A collection of people have moved into constructions known as ‘Earthship Biotecture’, these are sustainable homes made from renewable materials and are designed to make a reduction in the average carbon footprint of a house. Although these individuals are benefitting the environment, others continue to ignore the climactic issue, the majority of people continue to follow the statement ‘ignorance is bliss’ regardless of the prominent weather results we are subsequently experiencing that seem to suggest otherwise. The manufacturing industry continues to devise methods of manipulating the consumer into purchasing more products that we do not require, the event Black Friday is a superlative example of this point.

Black Friday illustrates the obsessive nature that we withhold as hordes of people stampeded the shops to get the best deals physically possible on products they do not need. Violence was utilised as a method of beating adversary customers to the newly price reduced products, with the event being so heavily attended there have been deaths and injuries resultant from the sales. Upon observing video recordings of the 2014 Black Friday (some of these videos can be seen on my blog) it illustrates the extremes of consumer madness, individuals have been seen physically fighting over a pair of underwear, clutching at the risqué product like it’s a literal lifeline. Observing the news on Black Friday was representative of living in a paradox, as people who previously stated that they care for the environment completely contradict themselves by attending an event in the very consumer system that’s destroying our planet.

However, regardless of this, change is being ensued, research has indicated that large companies such as Nike have begun attempting to develop alternative environmentally friendly products, packaging and factories. As a company they intend to “Drive innovation and collaboration and engage in public policy advocacy to deliver carbon reductions across the value chain.” (http://www.nikeresponsibility.com/targets). One of their methodologies of accomplishing their desired targets is through the ideology of ‘BICEP’ (The Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy). Nike are one of the founding members and their key principles consist of =

• the promotion of energy efficiency and green jobs,
• the stimulation of renewable energy,
• the limitation of new coal fired power plants to reduce 100% of the carbon allowance,
• the utilisation of efficient systems that capture and store energy,
• the investment and encouragement of clean energy transportation by promoting full efficient vehicles,
• the establishment of plug in electric hybrids,
• the lowering of carbon fuels and the reduction in overall transit products.

Nike and BICEP maintain a greenhouse gas reduction target of 25% by 2020 and 80% by 2050, in an endeavour to accomplish this target they have attempted to persuade the US government to adopt a national renewable portfolio that requires 20% of electricity from renewable sources by 2020 and 30% by 2030 rather than energy from existing environmentally unfriendly power plants. They want to create incentives for carbon capture technology and by 2030 to have completely phased out existing coal based power plants that do not capture and store carbon. Nike are continually working with their 700+ contract factories and suppliers to achieve 60% of the CO2 footprint worldwide. Their factory partners in China, Indonesia and Vietnam will have embedded within the design and construction of all new factories, energy efficient and green building principles.

Nevertheless, research within this module has identified that companies implement green initiatives to maximise profit which is driven by adverse publicity as well as threats to their profit margins. Some companies have been known to utilise the ideology of ‘greenwashing’, this is when “a company or organisation spends more time and money claiming to be ‘green’ through advertising and marketing than actually implementing business practices that minimise environmental impact.” (http://www.greenwashingindex.com/about-greenwashing/). This methodology engenders entirely negative results, with the environment, consumer and perhaps even the business itself subsequently suffering, the environment suffers as no changes are being enforced for its benefit, consumers are being taken advantage of as they are manipulated into spending their money on products that are not environmentally friendly and finally the business could potentially face damage to its reputation if they are discovered, thus, impacting their sales in a negative manor.

It is prominent that not every individual is willing to sacrifice their current luxury lifestyles for a more humble form of green living, as a unit we need to establish a consistent balance between green and luxury (a balance which necessarily favours sustainability), we need to contribute fundamental reductions and turn our talk into physical action. This module has illustrated that the world is a delicate enigma that requires a certain degree of respect, respect that it is currently not fully receiving. Man possesses a futile arrogance that suggests superiority, an ideology that couldn’t be further from the truth, a belief that may be our downfall unless we can alter our outlook on life. 

Projects such as the Hobsons Brewery and Oldfields Orchard packaging brief are positive developments heading in the right direction, if all companies adopted a similar philosophy to the brewery then benefits would hopefully ensue.

However, green design has additionally conveyed that environmentally friendly materials require more research and development within areas such as manufacturing processes. During this brief I observed a particular material known as Water Hyacinth, this is a perennial aquatic weed native to the Amazon basin; it infests lakes, ponds, rivers, dams and irrigation channels. Its rapid infestation has resulted in it becoming a menace, disrupting numerous elements of water life (see blog post for more details/examples) and costing large sums to both control and repair damages resultant from its growth. In an attempt to control the plant and benefit the environment, Water Hyacinth can now be harvested and utilised as a material for weaving and creating products. This material was preferred when I was considering taking on my tray concept, however my mind was changed when I realised the substantial cost of harvesting the plant, transporting it and the man-power of weaving it, the material was suitable however the price wasn’t.

Overall, I have thoroughly enjoyed this module and I feel that I have experienced a new learning experience that has heightened my understanding of the world in which we live. 

Final Design - Digital Version

(Side view of packaging product without the carrying support strap) 












(Digital Example of Prototype)

During peer assessment, I was advised to produced a digital example of my prototype/what I intended to construct, the above image is a side view constructed on Photoshop. Unfortunately, my skills in Photoshop are still somewhat underdeveloped so I struggled with producing an accurate representation of my design. The 1st design simply portrays the positioning of the 6 'Nature Cups' whilst the 2nd design conveys 3 out of the 6 'Nature Cups' within the pack (this is due to the side view), the 2nd design additionally shows how the strap with wrap around and support the 6 bottles.

Ink

Environmentally Friendly Materials

Inks

The printing industry has taken to one colour more seriously than the others......green........one way that packaging products can be designed with greater green awareness is to use ink that is as earth friendly as the packaging material itself.

Components of Ink

• Pigment  - Colour of Ink
• Vehicle – Substance to ensure uniform coverage – petroleum, water, soy or vegetable in
• Additives – Improves inks performance and avoid ink set-off  - waxes and distillates

With Government legislation being introduced such as the European  Union’s  EN 134323 which specifically includes the contents of ink ,  the packaging industry has sought to reduce its environmental footprint through its use of petroleum based inks. These inks are made from a non-renewable source and release high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) which can have negative long and short term health affects to employees that are employed within the printing industry, and reduce the quality of the indoor air quality.

Environmentally Friendly Inks

Vegetable and Soy Based Inks

Vegetable based inks are made from a combination of renewable resources such as flax, soy, canola or safflower. Although some such as soy based inks may contain a small percentage of petroleum used to increase the speed of drying, the VOC’s emitted into the air range from 2 to 15% . Many inks are a combination of several of the vegetable oils as reliance on one product can have environmental impacts. Soybean production is a major source of deforestation in the Brazilian Rainforest, and the US crops are produced from genetically modified seed, which may have an unforeseen environmental impact.

Water Based Inks

Water based inks can be used for the manufacture of a wide range of printing applications. They do not contain ozone depleting chemicals such as CFC’s, HCFC’s, hydrocarbons, volatile substances or heavy metals such as lead Working with water based inks however require a more labour intensive process  and a longer drying process, commercial applications  need to be heat set. 

Re-Design of Packaging

My prototype identified a couple of improvements with my design that could be resolved, these have been highlighted in the re-designs below and supported by a brief description.

(Re-design of Final Packaging)

One of my main concerns was that the cup wouldn't fit exactly to the bottle, there would be a small amount of room between the product and the packaging, this means that the product would be somewhat unsteady when it was being carried as the bottle would be able to move around inside the packaging. I designed a novel method of steadying the bottle, in the lid there would be a centralised hole that fits snugly around each bottle neck, subsequently, securing and balancing the product. Upon observing, I discovered that this would additionally result in a reduction of cost, as there wouldn't be as much biodegradable plastic required to make the Nature Cups. By steadying the bottles inside the packaging, it furthermore eliminates the possibility of any damage that could be sustained to the cardboard carrying strap that wraps itself around all 6 Nature Cups whilst the product is being carried (if the bottles are moving around inside it could damage the strap).

Lecture 8 - Peer Assessment

Peer Assessment 

For our final lecture we underwent Peer Assessment, the class were split into more condensed groups and were tasked with marking fellow students work both separately and together on a master sheet. We were required to (as accurately as possible) mark each students work following a set criteria that was designed to establish their predicted final grade as an average.

I found the Peer Assessment within this particular module useful as it highlighted both the strengths an weaknesses of my developing project, whilst complimenting apparent positives within my work (e.g. research) my group additionally identified what I could do to further improve. Resultant of Peer Assessment I will attempt to produce a digital copy of my design as my group suggested that it would add more professionalism to my drawings, whilst providing a final image for the Hobson's and Oldfield's Company to observe. Additionally, the opportunity of being able to view other students responses to the brief was insightful, it enables you to realise the diverse range of intellectual concepts that can be conceived from a singular task. 

Overall, my group graded my work at an A-.

To prepare us for constructing the final prototype Andy decided to show our lecture some of the current packaging that the Hobsons Brewery and Oldfields Orchard utilise, these have been shown below... 

(Example of Hobsons Brewery Packaging) 

(Example of Hobsons Brewery Packaging)

(Example of Oldfields Orchard Packaging) 

Birmingham's German Market - Found Hobson's 

In Peer Assessment I additionally discussed that although Hobsons and Oldfields are a local company, their delicious alcoholic beverages are being served in bars within major cities such as Birmingham. It is apparent that their expansion is being undertaken with a smile and a sense of humour as one of their sandwich boards (located outside a Birmingham Pub near the German Market reads...

"You're not drunk if you can lie on the floor without holding on."

This is a famous quote by singer, actor and comedian, Dean Martin, who was classed as a legendary drinker.

Learning Report 1st Draft

The module of Green Design introduced an entirely new concept of physical design, requiring extensive research, as well as a broad outlook and an innovative and creative ability to encapsulate a unique response to the outlined brief.

I initially underestimated the difficulty that this design project ultimately posed. The sheer amount of additional tasks required, combined with the vast amounts of necessary research on elements such as potential materials and resources, amalgamated with issue that many of the concepts I devised were already out there.

From my initial research it became obvious that green design could be seen as both a necessary but furthermore a contentious issue. Designing ‘better’ for the future goes beyond waiting for governments and legislation, and through internet based research, the growing voices of campaigners to implement integrated changes within society, highlighted that advancing technology combined with the willingness to change habits and lifestyles means that every one of us can make a difference if so willing.

Resources such as the films ‘The Age of Stupid’ and ‘The Story of Stuff’ highlighted the fact that many parts of the world have become spoilt; consumerism is a key concept that exploits natural resources, powers economies and leads to incredible amounts of waste. My visit to ‘The Centre for Alternative Technology’ however was a firsthand experience in learning how there is an alternative, through the adaptation of lifestyle. From creative design and use of alternative materials the centre showcased green concepts through large-scale projects, such as Zero Carbon Britain, the straw bale theatre, and the rammed mud walls of the lecture theatre, illustrating how, with pioneering and careful design, we can reduce our carbon emissions by reducing waste.

The reduction of waste was an important concept within the brief, designing packaging that possessed the ability to effectively carry 6 bottles of cider/beer, through the utilisation of materials that were environmentally friendly and which ultimately could be adapted to contribute a secondary use. Surprisingly, research into packaging led me into the past, traditional Japanese packaging with it’s simple yet beautiful designs, are both practical and functional for the job that they are designed for. Exquisite and elegant, they battle against our consumerist manufacturing ideologies and insert us into a world that withholds more innocent and natural philosophies. Traditional Japanese Packaging utilises natural materials whilst eliminating the modernist method of mass-production, an element of life that is prominent within the majority of shops currently open for business. Western countries such as The United States and The United Kingdom possess enormous stores that are, in essence, shrines to the mass-manufacturing industry, with hundreds of the same product adorning the walls (often modelling a clever marketing scheme) they are a consumerist junkies dream.

Green design and sustainable living are casually growing with popularity, individuals are becoming more aware and a select few have already contributed to the planets healing process by making the necessary sacrifices and altering their lifestyles. A collection of people have moved into constructions known as ‘Earthship Biotecture’, these are sustainable homes made from renewable materials and are designed to make a reduction in the carbon footprint of a house. Although these individuals are benefitting the environment, others continue to ignore the climactic issue, the majority of people continue to follow the statement ‘ignorance is bliss’ regardless of the prominent weather results we are subsequently experiencing that seem to suggest otherwise. The manufacturing industry continues to devise methods of manipulating the consumer into purchasing more products that we do not require, the event Black Friday is a superlative example of this point.

Black Friday illustrates the obsessive nature that we withhold as hordes of people stampeded the shops to get the best deals physically possible on products they do not need.